Bruno's Little Italy — Restaurant in Little Rock

I want to start by saying, "Worth every penny, worth all the wait", my first of hopefully, many occasions.

I was raised in The Bronx, New York. I have been to almost every "self proclaimed" Italian restaurant in Arkansas, and not a single one comes close- Except Brunos. ❤ Tonight, I felt like I went home.

Brunos is perfectly balanced. In every way. For every piece that felt like was going to be mediocre, there was a burst of excitement, flavor, and authenticity.

Now, down to the nitty gritty! For a table of four, the price averaged $30-$40 per person. However, we like to dive deep and go all the way from appetizer to dessert.

The complimentary bread had a nice crisp on the outside and a satisfying thick cloud inside. Lightly salted around the edges, making a savory introduction. Was gone before I knew it. 🍽

The garlic bread: Was a prefect balance! Took me back to NY flavors ASAP! Even if just for the bread, I will be here more regularly.

The Mushroom Butter crisp appetizer: The breadcrumbs were so full, juicy and surprisingly lived up to its name, "crisp", while maintaining the moisture of the Mushroom.

Linguini pesto: How can I say this? OMG, these sun dried tomatoes! 😮❤ The linguini is most DEFINITELY FRESH, homemade. No doubt about it. At first, I took a bite of the Grilled Chicken, and was a tad disappointed... BUT---- Please, get a little of everything on your fork at once to experience the most of this dish. This choice is definitely designed to be mixed. AND I'm so glad I made this choice tonight.

I'm going to have to add my dessert review tomorrow, because I was STUFFED!!! So, "to go boxes" were the saving grace. 😂

To every individual who left a negative review, my belief is that you have never had authentic, high end, Italian food. You must have never sat at a star rated restaurant. You've never had a meal that wasn't overpowered by meat. 🙄🙄🙄

To the owner, you take such pride in your father's creations, and still hold yourself to a higher standard- WITH HUMILITY. I'm proud to have been able to experience Little Italy. Thank you for the hospitality. Please take the time to read this review to your employees and remind them that as your restaurant soars to higher levels, they will also. They are a vital part and should always be as pleasant and giving on the front line as you were. A smile and humility may seem belittling to some, but can be the most valuable and comforting part of a...

Need an Italian fix? Look no further! Bruno's Little Italy is a local, family-owned eatery that has been serving Central Arkansas for decades. Enjoy casual dining in a relaxed atmosphere where the staff is VERY friendly - many of which have been working together almost 20 years!

Bruno's has been a fixture of the Little Rock restaurant scene for as long as anyone can remember. Located on Main Street, it's just a short walk from hotels in Downtown Little Rock, and the city parking deck is just around the corner. Very easy to park, walk, and eat!

Come as you are enjoy and enjoy a unique Arkansas treasure. It's not a snotty, arrogant atmosphere like other restaurants in the area. Here you'll find a staff that is really interested in your dining experience and not one that will overcharge you for enjoying a trendy establishment.

Beware! The bread is delicious and will easily fill you up. Leave room for dinner! Most of the pasta (except the fettuccine) is made in-house and the Parmesan cheese (green top jar in photo) is grated nightly.

Entrees are Bruno family recipes that have stood the test of time. The menu is very simple to navigate and every choice is an excellent choice! The only thing missing from the experience is the traditional Italian-style tablecloths and candles. Enjoy a great selection of wines to pair with your dinner. They have a few beers, but most of them are from Arkansas breweries in the city and aren't very good. Stick with what you know or ask for a recommendation.

Old World Italian meets new age technology at Bruno's! Wait staff uses tablets to place your order at the table and when you're ready to leave, swipe your payment card on the tablet and complete the transaction. You don't have to wait, and wait, and wait for staff to return. They are very attentive!

Before you leave, be sure to check out the "wall of fame" in the back of the restaurant. Here you will find photos of local and international celebrities that have graced the tables at Bruno's through the...

I will start off by saying I have only gotten food to-go so far, so I can't speak for eating inside, that might be different. So far I have eaten here twice. I got the same thing both time, a cheese pizza. The first time, I ordered a cheese pizza and that's it. They said it would say 20 to 25 minutes so I arrived in 15 minutes so that I could get it as soon as it was ready, so It wouldn't be cold or soggy. It was not a cold pizza but it has definitely been sitting for a bit and was very soggy. The taste of the pizza was okay but really wasn't matching the expectations I had after looking at the place and seeing the reviews. So a few days later I ordered another cheese pizza but this time extra crispy and when I went to pick it up I arrived 5 minutes after I placed the order so that I could get it fresh and have a full chance at giving this place a good review. But when I arrived I got the whole, " I'm The only one working right now and we're really busy" It took them forever to get me my pizza and when I did get it it was soggy and have been sitting there for a while. I realize that during COVID and after covid restaurants were struggling to get people but I really don't have that type of forgiveness in me anymore. If the restaurant doesn't have enough people to do their job then they should have to start sacrificing things so that people still have a good experience when eating at that place. Believe me I don't know what the answer is to places not wanting to hire people or people not want to work at places but the only place i can think to start is in the reviews. I will update this as I will go eat inside there at some point. I can't imagine this place having such bad food and bad service after reading all the reviews and seeing the food...